Cons:

When it comes to launching a new console, there are few ways to guarantee that consumers will flock to get it on the day of its release. Although stuffing it with $100 bills would probably do the trick, there's a more fiscally responsible option: launch with a new Madden NFL title. Devotees to EA's powerhouse franchise (and football gamers in general) are notorious graphics whores, always willing to spend a pretty penny to see some pretty pigskin. Although they probably already bought the current-gen iteration of Madden NFL 06 was released earlier this year, Microsoft and EA are undoubtedly counting on superfans to run out and buy the Xbox 360 game, too (as well as the system itself). However, to paraphrase the popular adage, if EA builds it, will fans come?

Since tampering too much with their proven formula could be disastrous, the developers at EA Tiburon made sure that the game will be instantly familiar to even casual fans of the series. The core gameplay and player controls haven't been altered very much, although the move to the Xbox 360's controller has actually allowed for a few nice changes. Rather than pressing the A button, you'll now use the right trigger to sprint, making it a bit easier to use the other face buttons for moves. Your jukes are now all mapped to A, with the right analog dictating the direction of your fake. Gone are the infamous black and white buttons, so it's now much easier to stiff arm with the left trigger.

Although the game hasn't undergone too many drastic changes in regards to the fundamental gameplay, it's definitely gotten a next-gen facelift. This is never more evident than in the moments before the ball is snapped, as you'll be treated to the sight of your quarterback ambling up to the line, his eyes darting back and forth as he tries to dissect the defense. The level of detail (especially when you zoom in for instant replays) is astounding, from the stitching on the jerseys to the expressions on the players' faces. The animations are top-notch, as well, guaranteeing that you'll see something new just about every time you make a tackle.

As I said, the gameplay hasn't changed very much (after all, it's still football), but the manner in which you choose your plays has been improved quite a bit. When the playcalling screen comes up, you'll have a number of different views to choose from. Know what player you want to go to? View your plays "By Key Player." If you're one of the types of people that likes to use the same plays over and over, you can view your "Last 5 Plays" at any time. Of course, this isn't generally a good idea, since the opposing defense will generally catch on pretty quickly.